Ex-girls softball coach spared prison

STAUNTON — A former youth softball coach who had a sexual relationship with a teenage player last year was spared time behind bars Wednesday in Augusta County Circuit Court.

Courtney E. Allman, 24, of Grottoes, Eastern Mennonite University's all-time home run leader in women's softball, was convicted in June on two felony charges of taking indecent liberties with a child while in a supervisory role.

With both the defense and prosecution agreeing that a long-term stint in prison was not a proper resolution, Judge Charles Ricketts III sentenced Allman to five days in jail, time that has already been served.

"There's a lot of good in Courtney Allman," defense attorney Thomas McPherson said during the sentencing hearing.

A therapist deemed Allman a low risk to reoffend.

Evidence at Allman's trial showed the victim was 15 years old when she and Allman began having consensual sex in the summer of 2014. Allman was the victim's first-base coach and also an unpaid math tutor, according to testimony.

The victim testified Allman fondled her on several occasions at the teen's Augusta County home and at Allman's former Crimora residence.

The father of the victim discovered phone texts between his daughter and Allman in October 2014, evidence showed. Questioned by an Augusta County sheriff's investigator, Allman immediately confessed to the relationship.

In court Wednesday, Allman testified the sex charges resulted in her losing her job at a Harrisonburg assisted-living facility, and said her arrest also squashed a job offer from EMU to become a softball coach.

Allman, who must register as a sex offender, faced a possible 10-year sentence on the felony charges.

Corey Smith, an assistant commonwealth's attorney for Augusta County, noted that had Allman and the girl met in passing and had a consensual relationship, she would have only faced misdemeanor charges. But since Allman was the victim's coach, putting her in a supervisory role, the felony charges were filed, he said.